Government scientists want to take a close-up look at marine activity in the Florida Keys, so in
a test program over the next nine days, they’ll be cataloging wildlife using a drone.

“We prefer not to call it that because it has an association with the military,” said Karrie
Carnes, spokeswoman for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where the 13-pound
battery-powered aircraft will be deployed today through Sept. 22.

The aircraft will be hand-launched from a boat and can be recovered from land or sea. Equipped
with video and still cameras, it can fly for up to two hours, counting turtles, sea birds and deer
in a 50-square-mile range.

It also will tally boating activity to determine use in heavily-trafficked areas.

But don’t worry about a government spy in the sky.

“This is not surveillance; there’s no law enforcement,” Carnes said. “It’s absolutely a
scientific mission.”